DARIO Gradi is adamant Crewe can win their final four games and stay up.

The Alex are still without a win since New Year's Day and now hover just one point above the Championship drop zone following back-to-back defeats.

Saturday's clash at Gillingham is a genuine six-pointer. Stan Ternent's side looked destined for relegation earlier in the campaign but have now gone eight games unbeaten to leapfrog Crewe by a single point.

The game at the Priestfield Stadium is likely to be a fearsome physical encounter under severe pressure. But Gradi insists his men can win it and then beat Stoke (h), Ipswich (a) and Coventry (h).

He said: 'We are going to win all four games - that's what we are setting out to do. No game is beyond us, even Ipswich away. Nothing is impossible and if Norwich can beat Manchester United, we can win at Ipswich. There is no point in worrying. We just have to play our way out.

'We may have to play a different sort of game (on Saturday). We have to make sure we don't play pretty football while they play efficient football.

'They are big and powerful and cause problems, but I don't believe they will just whack the ball and fight and chase. They will play some football. We have to match them and score some goals.'

The heartbreaking 4-3 defeat at Millwall could have destroyed the spirit of the players as they fight for survival. But striker Steve Jones said: 'We will dig ourselves out, starting at Gillingham. It is a sixpointer. Stan Ternent has done well and they are hard to beat and break down. It could come down to the last game but we believe in ourselves.'

Goalkeeper Clayton Ince was one of a handful of senior players looking to impress in a friendly with Port Vale at Reaseheath yesterday.

Ince joined the likes of Justin Cochrane, Lee Bell, Darren Moss, Richard Walker and Billy Jones in the side, but the 2-0 defeat is unlikely to improve their chances of figuring on Saturday.

Gradi may wait until Friday before deciding who will play in goal. But Ben Williams is already concentrating on the job.

He said: 'It's good to have Clayton back. Competition for places is what you need at this stage of the season. We've got a battle on our hands but there's a great spirit in the camp and it'll hopefully see us through.' nCrewe Alex ruled out a loan swoop for Everton's new teenage sensation James Vaughan earlier this season.

The Goodison Park faithful quickly forgot Wayne Rooney when Vaughan became the club's and the Premiership's youngest ever scorer on Saturday.

The striker notched the side's final goal in a 4-0 win over Crystal Palace aged just 16 years and 271 days. Gradi said: 'We talked about bringing him in here on loan. But we don't want to bring in players of that age above our own young players.'